Elmbay

(1919) 1923                                  Elmbay                                  1941 (1967)

Steel twin-screw St. Lawrence River canal size bulk freighter

One of a fleet of vessels, ten or more, built shortly after the end of World War I for the French government for coastal service in the coal trade.  Cabins aft with twin screws, they were near sisters named for occupations involved in the construction or operation of ships.  Built by six or more different shipyards, they all had slightly different dimensions and tonnages.  Of the vessels brought to the Great Lakes, half were propelled by fore and aft compound engines and half by triple expansion engines.  Ten of these vessels were purchased in late 1922 primarily for the grain trade by Ogilvie Flour Mills, Montreal QC,  renamed for trees native to Canada with –bay suffix honoring their operating company, each vessel owned by a separate company indicating the name of the vessel, and brought to the Great Lakes in 1923.

Built at St. Nazaire France by Chantier de Penhoet, Hull C4
Launched as Perceur (driller).  Renamed Nantes 1922

230’ LOA, 219’9” LBP, 34’3” beam, 15’7” depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, coal-fired boilers, 2 fore and aft compound engines, 700 IHP

Enrolled at Montreal QC 1923 as Elmbay
218.6 x 34.2 x 13.1, 1217 GT, 661 NT     Can 150841     to:
Elmbay Steamship Co., Montreal QC, Bay Line Steamships Ltd., Mgr. (home port Montreal QC)

Entered Great Lakes service 1923

Managing firm renamed Tree Line Navigation Co. 1924

Management of fleet transferred to Canada Steamship Lines 1939

Assigned 1941 to off-Lakes service during World War II and left the Great Lakes.

Renamed Siderurgica Dois (Brazil) 1945 and Simansur 1956

Stranded Jan 19, 1967 off Brazil, Atlantic Ocean

 

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4 thoughts on “Elmbay

  1. Our museum received a photograph of the ship Elmbay among others related to our museum in Kapuskasing. The photo of the Elmbay will not be catalogued into our collection. Would you like to have it? I would be happy to mail it to you. Kind regards.

    • I would be delighted to have the picture. In a bit I expect it will be in an appropriate archive — probably in Toledo — with proper credit to you guys for giving it to us.

      Thanks very much.

    • Hi Julie
      I was wondering if you had a manuscript or any records of the crew members on the Emblay My Grandfather was a sailor aboard just doing some research

      Thanks
      Len

  2. Hi, my father was an officer on the Elmbay when they brought her down to Brazil. The skipper died enroute, and was buried in South America. I have several photos taken there. I also recall my dad saying they ran out of drinking water and were at anchor a long time around Christmas. If you want images, I can send by email.
    Regards,
    Rev. Helen McFadyen, daughter of Capt. Joseph McFadyen (1910-1985).

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